Age-Related Disorders of the Eye and Hearing
Age-Related Disorders of the Eye and Hearing
Synopsis Discuss the following after reading Module 5: Lecture Materials & Resources:
• Describe the signs and symptoms, etiology, differential diagnosis, and definition of presbycusis.
• Develop three educational interventions for a patient suffering from presbycusis.
• Enumerate, describe, and expound upon the three age-related retinal and macular disorders.
Age-Related Diseases of the Hearing and Eyes Discussed
Presbycusis, retinal and macular illnesses, and other hearing and vision disorders affect most old individuals and drastically lower their quality of life. Age-Related Disorders of the Eye and Hearing. The term “presbycusis” refers to a mild symmetrical hearing loss that is common in the elderly population. According to Reis and Escada (2016), thirty percent of people over 65 have hearing loss. The illness presents as bilateral high-frequency hearing loss, which is linked to difficulty recognizing speech in accordance with central auditory processing.
Symptoms and Signs of Presbycusis
People with hearing loss frequently find it difficult to understand speech in noisy and distracting environments, spoken quickly, and complicated terminology. Patients also often lament that women’s high-pitched voices make it difficult to comprehend them when they speak (Reis & Escada, 2016). Age-Related Disorders of the Eye and Hearing. Furthermore, as the condition worsens, it becomes harder for the patients to localize sound.
The Causes of Differential Diagnoses and Presbycusis
Variations related to aging induce presbycusis. Additional triggers include negative effects from specific medications, prolonged loud noise exposure, degeneration of inner ear sensory receptors, and genetic factors (Reis & Escada, 2016). Age-Related Disorders of the Eye and Hearing. Differential diagnoses include cholesteatoma, ototoxicity, sudden loss of hearing, middle ear inflammation, and genetic sensorineural hearing loss.
Interventions: Educative Activities for a Presbycusis Patient
Prescriptions for various therapies are available for presbycusis. A multiplex electronic device is inserted to replace the internal cochlea of the ear during the first surgical surgery that a patient may have. According to Reis and Escada (2016), the second management intervention entails the use of hearing aids and aural rehabilitation. Last but not least, patient education programs ought to focus on teaching speech reading, avoiding loud noises, and using earplugs to stop future hearing loss. Age-Related Disorders of the Eye and Hearing
Age-Related Retinal and Macular Diseases
1. Age-related changes in retinal and macular diseases are common. First, macular degeneration (MD) is a visual abnormality that may lead to blurred vision in the future (Bringmann et al., 2016). The macula, a tiny central region of the retina that supports crisp vision, is impacted. Age-Related Disorders of the Eye and Hearing. This disease causes a person to lose their center vision but keeps their side vision. Wet MD and dry MD are the two forms of macular deterioration. Oozing blood vessels in the retina are the cause of the troublesome visual condition known as “wet MD.” Unlike dry MD, the abnormal blood vessels at the rear of the eye leak fluid, which could cause vision loss. The symptoms of wet MD consist of shadow areas in the central vision, distorted words when reading, and difficulty seeing in poor lighting (Bringmann et al., 2016). Age-Related Disorders of the Eye and Hearing. Protein buildup in the macula, which impairs the function of the retina cells above it, is a typical cause of dry MD. Patients have a gradual, painless loss of vision. Cardiovascular disease and smoking are risk factors that increase the risk of macular disease.
2. Second, a condition known as retinal detachment occurs when the pigmented layer of the retina separates from the sensory layer of the retina (Laishram et al., 2017). The condition manifests as visual disturbances such as light flashes, loss of vision, and “spider web” effects. Age-Related Disorders of the Eye and Hearing. In order to prevent falls and traumas brought on by poor vision, interventions include teaching people to self-monitor their central vision, promoting routine examinations, and maintaining safe behavior. The response has been provided in compliance with the rules for the discussion of hearing and eye age.
3. Lastly, diabetic retinopathy is a condition that affects people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It causes the blood vessels in the retina to rupture, enlarge, or become clogged. Among the condition’s symptoms include fuzzy vision, poor night vision, and the sensation of something alien in the eye. One annual eye examination is one of the interventions; if the disease worsens, individuals may also need injectable medicine, laser surgery, or microsurgery. Age-Related Disorders of the Eye and Hearing. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Znte2J6Q8jA
4. In conclusion, age-related eye disorders and hearing loss are serious issues that require quick attention. The indications of presbycusis, a hearing impairment that affects the elderly, are associated with the difficulty of understanding noises. It is important to manage the illness and stop additional hearing loss with the right measures. Furthermore, elderly persons’ eyes are impacted by diseases like diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, and macular degeneration. Treating the problems is necessary to prevent major complications. Age-Related Disorders of the Eye and Hearing.
References
Bringmann, A., Hollborn, M., Kohen, L., & Wiedemann, P. (2016). Intake of dietary salt and drinking water: Implications for the development of age-related macular degeneration. Molecular vision, 22, 1437. Laishram, M., Srikanth, K., Rajalakshmi, A. R.,
Nagarajan, S., & Ezhumalai, G. (2017). Microperimetry–a new tool for assessing retinal sensitivity in macular diseases. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research: JCDR, 11(7), NC08. Reis, L. R., & Escada, P. (2016). Presbycusis: do we have a third ear? Brazilian journal of otorhinolaryngology, 82(6), 710-714.